Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s one of the most treat-filled holidays of the entire year. Because of all the candy that will be available to our young patients– and their adults too!–all of us at our Long Island pediatric dental office thought it would be a good opportunity to remind you of the 5 worst types of candies for your teeth and offer some alternative suggestions.
Candy in itself isn’t the culprit. The bacteria present in everyone’s mouth is the actual cause of tooth decay and gum disease. The trouble with sugar is that it feeds these bacteria which then break the sugars down into acids. And those acids erode enamel. But there are other dangers associated with certain candies. We’ll cover it all right here!
If any of these come home in your child’s trick-or-treat bag, replace them with something healthier — and that doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be an apple! Chocolate melts and rinses away easily. And candies and gum sweetened with Xylitol have pretty impressive oral and general health benefits!
The real key to thinking about which candies to avoid is to consider how long your kiddo’s teeth will be exposed to the it. The shorter the exposure time the better. Don’t forget to encourage brushing and flossing after treats, but if that isn’t possible, have your child rinse with fresh water to remove as much sugar as possible.
For more information about keeping kids’ teeth healthy all year round, please call our pediatric dental office in Long Island. We are here to keep little smiles going strong.
Accepting patients from Long Island, Westbury, and Nassau County.
